Applications open for the 2027 Mary Wright Scholarship Programme
Inaugural leadership scholarship recipient Gail Winks, Director of Finance and Business Operations at Loreto College Coorparoo, reflecting on the lasting impact of her scholarship at the 2026 Loreto Ministries Stewardship & Governance Conference.
Supporting leaders to grow, learn and serve in the Mary Ward tradition.
Applications are now open for the 2027 Mary Wright Scholarship Programme, an initiative of Loreto Ministries that supports the professional growth and formation of leaders across the Loreto network.
Named in honour of Sr Mary Wright IBVM, the programme reflects her deep belief in the potential of people, lifelong learning and leadership in service of others. It encourages learning that strengthens both individual leaders and the communities they serve.
Loreto Ministries CEO Maureen Ryan said:
"For those who did not have the privilege of knowing Sr Mary Wright, I encourage you to watch the short interview available on the Loreto Ministries website. Recorded in 2024, Mary reflects on leadership and speaks about the importance of generosity and truly 'seeing' others.
As leaders, we are called to see people, to listen deeply and to create opportunities for them to grow. That lies at the heart of the Mary Wright Scholarship Programme. It honours Mary's deep belief in the potential of people and her conviction that leadership is shaped through lifelong learning, reflection and service. By supporting leaders to continue their own formation and share that learning with others, we strengthen the future of the Loreto mission."
The Mary Wright Scholarship Programme includes two scholarship streams, recognising the diverse ways leaders contribute to the Loreto mission.
The Leadership Scholarship supports professional learning and leadership development across a broad range of disciplines and roles. The Canon Law Immersion is designed for Loreto School Board Chairs, Directors, Committee Members and Directors of Mission seeking to deepen their understanding of canon law and Catholic governance.
The inaugural Leadership Scholarships demonstrate the breadth of opportunities the programme can support. This year, recipients are:
undertaking a Master of Education (Leading Education) at the University of Melbourne
leading a whole-school curriculum mapping project focused on developing a knowledge-rich curriculum
participating in an international leadership study tour exploring governance, sustainability and innovation in schools.
At the recent Loreto Ministries Stewardship & Governance Conference, scholarship recipient Gail Winks, Director of Finance and Business Operations at Loreto College Coorparoo, reflected on how the international study tour challenged her thinking about leadership, stewardship and the future of Catholic education.
"The strongest observation I brought home was that resilient schools prepare before pressure arrives. Across the schools I visited, sustainability was not treated as separate from mission. It was the foundation that enabled mission to continue."
Reflecting on the lasting impact of the scholarship, Gail said:
"What I bring back from the scholarship is a renewed sense of purpose. It strengthened my commitment to disciplined stewardship, thoughtful governance, stronger collaboration and clearer storytelling about the value of a Loreto education."
The Mary Wright Scholarship Programme welcomes applications from leaders across the Loreto network. Whether you lead in the classroom, in mission, governance, wellbeing, curriculum, business operations or another area of school or ministry life, the programme offers an opportunity to deepen your expertise, strengthen your leadership and share your learning in service of the Loreto mission.
Applications for the 2027 Mary Wright Scholarship Programme close on Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Learn more about the Mary Wright Scholarship Programme and apply online HERE.
Author: Maureen Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Loreto Ministries
Published 30 July 2026